Other Health Safety Net Providers

In addition to Free Clinics and Community Health Centers, Hospitals and Health Departments contribute to Virginia's health safety net. 

Hospitals

Virginia hospitals are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are required to treat and stabilize everyone who seeks care. Virginia’s 78 emergency departments provide care for millions of patients each year.

Hospitals and health systems in Virginia have financial assistance policies designed to help low-income patients pay their hospital bills. These policies explain who is eligible for free or discounted care. Typically eligibility is based on the patient’s income level, but other criteria may apply. Assistance may be available to both uninsured and underinsured individuals.

What is your local hospital's financial assistance policy?

Although the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association Price Point system was designed to help patients compare hospitals' prices for specific medical procedures or diagnoses, it also can be used to get information on a hospitals' financial policy regarding free or discounted care. 

• Visit the Price Point System website and click on Begin Query Now. 
• Choose the Basic Query, select your region or city, and then click on Begin Query. 
• You will be given a list of hospitals in your area.
• Select a hospital and you will be presented with a list of medical conditions. 
• By choosing any of them and following the links, you will eventually get to the final screen that lists the hospital's contact information and offers a link to its financial policy.  
• Another option is to call the hospital's general information number and ask to speak with the office that handles financial assistance.

Health Departments

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) provides these public health services through its 35 health district offices and 119 local health departments statewide:

• Childhood immunizations;
• Blood lead level testing;
• Family Planning Services, including family planning medications and contraceptive supplies;
• Pregnancy testing and counseling;
• Prenatal and post-partum care;
• Sexually transmitted disease screening, diagnosis, treatment and surveillance;
• HIV/AIDS assessment, monitoring, and case management services;
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) programs providing supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant and breastfeeding women, and for children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk;
• Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) to cover necessary pediatric services for low-income children; and
• Tuberculosis control screening, diagnosis, treatment and surveillance.

In addition, some health districts supplement the core services listed above with one or more of the following:

• Preventive dental clinics for children;
• Foreign travel immunizations; and/or
• Adult health services.

Other services also may be provided through some health district offices.  Typically, services are provided on the State of Virginia Sliding Scale Fee Schedule according to ability to pay.

Contact your local health district via the phone or website provided below to determine the services, days and hours of operation.

• View an interactive map of local health districts statewide.
• View a list of Virginia Health District district locations, services, hours and contact information